Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-11-26

because some new rules and work did
lot please then. Moreover
They held mass-meeting and submitted
to the superintendent a modification of the
rules in question. The superintendent re.
fused to make any change and the men quit
work
The superintendent had perfect
right to do us he did, and the men
bad the same perfect right to quit
work.
Was ever equality of rights more
complete?
Now let us see what they fell out
about. The dispatch further states :
The principal objection is an order that any
miner loading twenty-siX pounds of slate on
one train car will be suspended from work
for two weeks.
The company has doubtless suffer-
ed in market from dirty coal-suffer-
ed, perhaps, in quarrels with con.
sumers and consequent loss of
prestige as Il square dealing concern.
TO remedy this two fold trouble it
has adopted the only method i'm
mediatel Y available-to fax the peo-
pie whose carelessness, perhaps
cussedness brings the trouble on.
The miners, on the other hand, say
in effect-take the dirty coal, or none.
And, suiting the action to their
Si@e quo non they "quit." Yes,
quit" That is the word, "quit."
The new synonym, of freedom-ab-
solute, unmstakable freedom-is
''qnit work" 1t is liberty un-
questioned which they enjoy, and
which they make use of when they
want to. Were that right denied
them howl would go up that would
rattle among the stars.
This in face of the fact. singular
to state, that some of them canf qut
Why?
We have 1t from good authority
that they are manacled to "homes'
and chained to ''life long friends" by
ties which ought not be broken even
in the name Of liberty. The despot-
ism Of intense patriotism broods over
their lives. They are the helpless VIC
Tins of their own domesti affections.
Love Of home and friends is the rock
whereon their freedom, otherwise
slick us grease and buoyant as gas,
lies stranded. In short, perfectly
free to quit tie work which affords
them livelihood, they are slaves to
the meatless, breadless, clothesless
sentimentallsms which spring from
a social pretext.
Gentlemen, when you want to kick
against dockage or any other penalty
fixed by the company to prevent
damage to the general and mutual
interest Of employer and employed,
you should be prepared
l, TO back it up by your ability to
quit work, if necessary, and
2, To quit work finally.
For there is absolutely no senti-
ment ruling among the necessities
which force regulations looking to
the production and shipment of
marketable coal.
The Alabama gentlemen, if still
out, no doubt think they are striking
against their employers.
If so, they are in error.
They are striking against the con-
sumers of their coal-against people
who have the same acquaintance and
regard for the miners that our beef
eaters entertain for the ranchemen of
Texas-against people, in short, who
are illimitably free to buy coal where
ever they can get the cleanest article.
The bureau of labor statistics of Maine
shows that the purchasing power of a dollar
in that State is much greater than it was ten
years ago. dollar will purchase as much
now as would dollar and seventeen cents in
lS77.-FIoating item.
The JOURNAL has looked into
Frostburg records of ten years ago
to see how much the dollar has gain
ed in purchasing power here since
1877. We have taken tobacco,
apples, starch, buckwheat, potash,
sugar, coffee, yarn, corn, flour, bacon.
lard oil, soap, cheese, syrups, lard,
thread and a few other samples of
everyday consumption, and compared
the prices Of that year with those of
this. We find that 1913 to-day will
buy what then cost $l3.2O, making
the purchasing power of u dollar 35
cents greater now than then.
Taking the calculation Il step
further. il is discovered that the 40